My GG Grandfather, Pvt. Giles Taylor, Co. "B" 2nd Arkansas Batt./Co. "I" 3rd Arkansas, is one of those men.
His last muster roll in July/August 1863, he was marked present for duty. I am informed this muster roll was taken on August 31st, 1863, prior to the 3rd Arkansas departing Virginia for Georgia. I have found no record of him after that date.
Harold Simpson's Compendium of Hood's Texas Brigade list Giles service record as ending with the May/June muster roll taken June 30th, 1863, However, I ordered a copy of Giles' Combined Service Records from the National Archives, which includes a July/August card.
Cal Collier in his Book "They'll Do To Tie To", says that there were a number of men of the 3rd when, upon reachibg Atlanta, Ga. heard of the capture of Little Rock on September 10th, deserted to go home and take care of their family. Most of the desertions like that, that I have found occurred later during the Chattanauga and Knoxville expeditions.
Unfortunantly while Collier in the 1960's did use the CSR's for a lot of his information, he did not footnote his sources, which leaves us to wonder was there some other source supporting his statement of these desertions. I am assuming that he got such information of these desertions from an Atlanta Newspaper aqrticle.
In any case Giles Taylor, unlike others which did deserted, if he did desert, doesn't appear as one who took the Oath when he returned to Jefferson County. Only two of his sons (Thomas and Henry, my GGrandfather) show up on any records after the war. Giles and the rest of his prewar family have disappeared from all records. I suspect that Henry being the oldest and 18 in 1865 also served the Confederacy, but again no records.
So, with the exception of Giles' sons Thomas and Henry, Giles, his wife and at least 4 other children fell through one of those infamous "Cracks" in our 20/20 hindsight of history.